232 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



the woods. This system of coloration has the 

 advantage of rendering animals inconspicuous 

 when living among trees, where the light, shining 

 through the leaves above, generally falls in spots 

 and streaks upon the evenly coloured bark and 

 upon the ground below. Furthermore, nearly all 

 the wild cats, which show a marked family resem- 

 blance to our tame varieties, seem to prefer a life 

 in the woods. 



Since the cat habitually preys upon animals 

 smaller and weaker than itself, it seldom needs 

 to resort to co-operation. Moreover, mice and 

 small birds could not be hunted profitably except 

 in the true feline style. A mouse is generally 

 close to a hole or some other place of refuge, 

 and a bird will be safe upon the wing within a 

 second of the time when it perceives an enemy. 

 Hence the best way of capturing such creatures 

 is by lying in ambush, or by adopting the method 

 known amonor backwoodsmen as " still-huntino^." 

 Not only has the cat no need for comrades when 

 following its usual prey, but it has the best of 

 reasons for preferring room to company. When 

 your game (and your dinner) is a mouse or a 

 sparrow, the fewer partners you have to share 

 it with you the better. If the dog's hunting 



